Africa-Press – Liberia. ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) has announced plans to establish a new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) facility in Grand Bassa County. The announcement was made Wednesday in Buchanan City during a meeting between the AML delegation and Grand Bassa Superintendent Karyou Johnson.
The new TVET facility, modeled after AML’s renowned Training Academy in Yekepa, Nimba County, is part of the company’s long-term strategy to decentralize technical skills development and expand access to industry-standard training across Liberia.
Marcus Wleh, AML Head of Sustainability and External Relations, emphasized that linking the proposed TVET center with Grand Bassa University’s Engineering College will provide students with both classroom instruction and practical exposure at industrial sites, enhancing their employability in AML and across Liberia’s mining, energy, construction, and manufacturing sectors.
The initiative reflects AML’s commitment to workforce localization, reducing reliance on expatriate technical labor, and contributing to Liberia’s broader human capital development goals. By replicating the Yekepa Academy model in Grand Bassa, AML aims to equip young Liberians with the skills needed to participate in industrial operations without having to relocate to Nimba County.
Superintendent Karyou Johnson welcomed the announcement, noting that the investment would support youth empowerment and create new opportunities for technical education in Grand Bassa.
AML described the TVET project as a strategic investment in Liberia’s industrial future, underlining the company’s ongoing efforts to build a pipeline of technically skilled Liberians ready to take up roles in large-scale investments across the country.
The AML Training Academy was established to develop a highly skilled Liberian workforce capable of operating in the mining, industrial, and infrastructure sectors. Its mission is to reduce Liberia’s reliance on expatriate labor by providing technical and vocational training tailored to the steel, mining, and related industries.
The Academy is located in Yekepa, Nimba County, adjacent to ArcelorMittal Liberia’s main iron ore operations, allowing students to combine classroom learning with hands-on experience in a real industrial environment.
The Academy provides training in both practical skills and industrial operations, including heavy-duty mechanics, welding, electrical systems, plant operations and machinery maintenance, and industrial safety and operational procedures. Some programs are also aligned with engineering and technical disciplines, offering pathways for graduates to take on operational or supervisory roles.
The target beneficiaries include Liberian youth seeking technical and industrial careers, AML employees looking to upskill, and contractors or support staff working with AML operations. The Academy has graduated hundreds of skilled technicians, many of whom are now employed directly by AML or contractors supporting mining, rail, and port operations.
The training approach combines theory with practical attachments. Students gain exposure to real operational sites, including mines, concentrators, and port facilities, providing hands-on learning that aligns with industry standards.
The Academy contributes to workforce localization and the employment of Liberians in skilled industrial roles, enhances Liberia’s technical human capital, and serves as a model for replication in other counties, such as the proposed TVET facility in Grand Bassa. The Academy also works closely with AML management, local communities, and government agencies to ensure programs meet both industrial and national workforce needs.
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